Community Assets

If you have additional information you would like added to the table below, email John Farrell.

Asset

Type

Address

Comment

American Hotel

Cultural/Heritage

Corner of Main and MacDonald

Site of the boroughs first hotel, where George Washington may have slept while visiting the foundry regarding supplies for his army. Demolished in the 1970s after decades of neglect. Now currently a mini-park

Arch Street Row Houses

Cultural/Heritage

31-53 Arch St

These three "four-in-one" buildings each have four one-family units that were built by Taylor-Wharton for its employees.

Arch Street Fishing Trail

Recreational

Arch St

Located along the South Branch of the Raritan River, this is a popular spot for fisherman. The short trail runs along the river on Arch Street, and has various spots to park and fish off the land, or if preferred, wade into the river. It is a lovely area with many trees, adjacent to both Union Forge Park and the Jerricho Ball Fields.

Arch Street School

Cultural/Heritage

13-15 Arch St

This was High Bridges second school and housed students from 1846 until 1903; it is now a residence

Arches Railroad Bridge

Cultural/Heritage

Arch St

The most famous landmark in High Bridge, its namesake is concealed here. The High Bridge Branch of the Central Jersey Railroad was completed in 1852 and included a 1,300 foot long wooden bridge supported by eight stone pillars 112 feet above the Raritan River. The bridge was costly to maintain and together with concerns over structural integrity led to the decision to fill the space beneath the bridge with an earthen embankment, leaving two arched culverts through which the river and the road beside it could pass.

Cain Property

Open Space

Cregar Rd

Located west on Cregar Rd., across from the golf course. There are 24.7 acres in High Bridge. The NJ Water Authority purchased the land from the Cain family for the Willoughby Brook. The brook flows down into Spruce Run, coming from the pond in Voorhees State Park. There are no hiking trails, just a field and trees.

Circa

Business

37 Main St

Local restaurant with historic ceiling. In earlier times this building housed the High Bridge Post Office, a haberdashery, confectioner, billiard room, and then a market.

Columbia Trail

Recreational

Starting point: Commons

The Columbia Trail (part of the Hunterdon County Park System) is used for many activities such as bike riding, walking, bird watching, and more. It runs 5 miles from High Bridge to Califon through Ken Lockwood Gorge and continues to Morristown. Originally owned by NJ Transit, the railroads carried passengers and peaches.

Cregar Farm & Lime Kiln

Cultural/Heritage

116-118 Cregar Rd

The site of the Cregar Farm & its kiln. The Lime Kiln was built between 1725 - 1741 in the field of the Cregar Farm. ( The Cregar Family was one of the towns founding families. ) Limestone was gathered from the fields and burned. The ashes were mainly used as fertilizer for the fields. They were also used to keep the outhouses sanitary. Whitewash was also made from the ashes. The remains of the kiln stand along the west bound side of Cregar Road.

Cregar Homestead & Bank House

Cultural/Heritage

97 N. Main St

The original home of the Cregar family, one of the first High Bridge families. Built 1725. Behind the homestead is its original tenant house built in the architectural style known as a bank house. Once a servant house it also served as an underground railroad safe house.

Croghan Home

Cultural/Heritage

150 Fairview Avenue

One of the oldest houses in High Bridge

Dutch Reformed Church

Church

23 Church St

The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1870 by acclaimed architect George Post on property donated by the Taylor Iron and Steel Company.

Firehouse

Other

7 Maryland

One of two firehouses originally build in the borough; the other was on West Main on the other side of the train tracks by the Commons. Two separate firehouses were needed in the days when the borough experienced heavy freight traffic since the trains could block main street for long periods and prevent fire fighting vehicles from one side of town reaching the other. Both were incorporated in 1902 and were combined in the 1990s

Fitzgerald Architecture

Cultural/Heritage

67 Main St

Historic Main St. store front

Graystone

Cultural/Heritage

21 Nassau Rd

A beautiful historic mansion built in 1907 by Knox Taylor for his wife, Lucy. The house has fireplaces in the living room, dining room, and each bedroom.

High Bridge Borough Hall

Cultural/Heritage

71 Main St

Built by the Cregar Family around 1900 this century-old home housed the police and court & jail and now borough offices.

High Bridge Commons on the Wye

Recreational

Main St.

The Commons on the Wye is located within walking distance of many shops and restaurants. It covers approximately 7 acres. It was originally owned by New Jersey Transit with a track for train turn around. After years of neglect, the Commons was acquired by the town, which cleared the overgrown grass and garbage. Now the Commons is used for trail and town parking, a park, concerts, movies, and an open-air market. There is an open field AND a picturesque gazebo which was remade by 2 Girl Scouts for their gold award, along with a swing and several picnic tables. Located on upper Main Street, It is the starting point for the Columbia Trail.

High Bridge Elementary School

Cultural/Heritage

Fairview Avenue

Built in the 1960s; houses grades K-5

High Bridge Hills Golf Course

Recreational

203 Cregar Rd

One of the largest areas of open space in High Bridge is the High Bridge Hills Golf Club. It has 93.4 acres in High Bridge and fewer in Lebanon and Clinton Township. The town bought it in 1999 to keep open space as a full 18 hole golf course. The original owners were the Cregars, and then it was the Uhligs dairy farm. Currently the clubhouse is being used for golf tournaments and banquets. High bridge residents get a discount. the Entrance is located on Cregar Road.

High Bridge Library

Cultural/Heritage

Main St.

The High Bridge library was started in 1914 on the edge of the Taylor Wharton foundry pond. In 1938, the library moved to the municipal building on the second floor in the back of the building. On May 8, 1965 the library moved to its current location where the Liberty Hose Fire Company had been housed.

High Bridge Methodist Church

Church

36 Church St

High Bridge Middle School

Cultural/Heritage

50 Thomas St

Build in 1903 and originally housed K-12; the original section contained 8 rooms. An additional 12 rooms were added in 1913.

High Bridge Train Station

Cultural/Heritage

Jerricho Road Ball Fields

Recreational

Jerricho Road

Located on Jericho Road in High Bridge, these are designated open space and Green Acres. The three ball fields consist of approximately 8.72 acres and the land is connected to another 26.96 acres, east of the power lines which provide a beautiful scenic area. The ball field area was acquired by the state of NJ from the Cantanzaretti family. The North Hunterdon Little League has been using it for many years and has built three baseball fields.

Jerricho Road Property

Open Space

Jerricho Road

Just up the road from the ball fields off Arch Street is a 47 acre area owned by NJ Fish & Game. Acquired in 2004 from the Grant family, this area was originally farmland. It is now available for passive recreation and bird watching. It includes a trout producing brook that flows into the south branch raritan river. Note: There is a small parcel of private property on it.

L. H. Taylor House

Cultural/Heritage

Springside Lane

Built by Archibald Taylor, this was a major farm in High Bridge

Lake Solitude

Recreational

River Road

A historic lake created by Taylor-Wharton to power the factory

Lake Solitude Falls

Cultural/Heritage

River Road

Spillway at the south end of Lake Solitude; considered one of the most picturesque locations in the borough

Lake Solitude Falls Power Plant

Cultural/Heritage

River Road

Structure adjacent to the dam and Solitude House property, formerly used to generate hydroelectric power for the steel mill.

Manning Farm Property

Open Space

Dewey Avenue

Former farm and pasture, now owned by the Borough and maintained as open space

Mayor Rose House

Cultural/Heritage

Dewey Avenue

House built by General Taylor for his family at the time of the Civil War. Also the house of Mayor J.H. Rose from 1907-19010, from whence it derived it's common name. Also the site of a speakeasy during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s. The stage and other remnants of the rowdy nightspot still remain.

Mine Road

Cultural/Heritage

Mine Road

The iron mines here were critical to the iron industry in High Bridge. Formerly know as "Irish Town" because it was settled by Irish immigrants during the days when the railroad was being build. The iron ore mines operated from 1730 to 1889 and were among the oldest and most prolific mines in the state.

Nassau Manor

Cultural/Heritage

Nassau Road

Former home of Taylor-Wharton executive. Now single family residence.

Nassau Woods and Trail

Recreational

Nassau Road

The Nassau Trail is located on Nassau Road and runs through open space that consists of 52.4 acres. This marked trail is the result of a local Boy Scouts Eagle Scout project. In 2011, local volunteers began efforts to convert the trail into a 5-mile long multipurpose trail, which was completed in 2012. The trail runs from the top of Nassau Road, near the edge of the Highland Ave. property, to the lower end of Nassau Road. The property was originally owned by the Taylors, then the Cassella family and was purchased by High Bridge in November of 2007 using Green Acres funding. The property was originally used as farmland and woodland management. The trail has some slight rocky hills and a small brook and is a wonderful hiking trail. In exiting the trail at the lower end of Nassau Road you can easily pick up the entrance to the Solitude Trail.

Pfauth Property

Open Space

Between the Commons and Cregar Rd

This is a 43 acre portion of land between the Commons and Cregar Rd. It was acquired by the NJ Water Authority, but is maintained by High Bridge. It is a beautifully wooded area, with a brook, large trees and much native wildlife. It has continued as a natural woodland area, as it was when the original owners had it (the Phauth family). There are currently no marked trails, but to the avid nature lover, it is a lovely and peaceful area.

Raritan River

Recreational

Red Row

Cultural/Heritage

Wilson Road

A series of foundry worker's homes built by Taylor-Wharton along the lower portion of Wilson Avenue

Riverside Liquors

Cultural/Heritage

45 Main St

Originally an art-deco bank, with many of the original architectural features preserved and intact.

Silverthorne School

Cultural/Heritage

Cokesbury Road

First known school in High Bridge.

Solitude House

Cultural/Heritage

7 River Rd

Built for the manager of Union Forge, it served as a prison for John Penn, the last colonial governor of Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War. George Washington and Aaron Burr visited Solitude House. The Solitude Property is located by the Nassau Trail and consists of the Solitude House, Lake Solitude, and Waterfall, making up about 35.5 acres of land. The land was acquired by the town as open space in 2002. The land was originally bought by the Taylor family and used for the Taylor Wharton Co. The Solitude Property is now used for canoeing, fishing, a museum, and watching birds.

Solitude House Annex

Cultural/Heritage

7 River Rd

Originally a barn, this small building later housed a company store for the Taylor Iron and Steel Company and the a "bachelor's quarters" for foundry workers.

Springside Farms

Cultural/Heritage

Springside Lane

The area of Springside Farms is located on Springside Lane which is off East Main Street with total acreage of ninety. The buildings and 36.5 acres are owned by High Bridge. It was acquired for open space in 2002. Once owned by Knox Taylor, it was a dairy farm until the 1950s. There are several unmarked walking trails, and various buildings to be renovated (currently unsafe to enter).

Springside Farms

Open Space

Springside Lane

This farm housed Union Forges animals and has many old buildings

St. Joseph's Church

Church

59 Main St

The original St. Josephs Church was built in 1879 for Irish immigrants but burned down on July 9, 1898. It was rebuilt very quickly for about $800. Back in the 1870s, the local Protestants were not happy about having a Catholic Church built in the area. In order to have the Catholic Church built on Main St., the Protestants had to be tricked into thinking that the property was going to be used by the Central Jersey Wire and Fence Company. There was a lot of surprise after finding out that St. Josephs Church was actually going to be built on that property. The oldest piece of St. Josephs Church is the cornerstone made in the year 724, making it almost 1,300 years old. This cornerstone was brought over by an Irish Immigrant, who got it from the ruins of St. Brigids Abbey in Ireland. It actually survived the fire in 1898.

Taylor-Wharton Iron and Steel

Cultural/Heritage

3 Washington Ave

This factory complex (including water tower), which made munitions for the Revolutionary War, was crucially important in shaping High Bridges history

TISCO Avenue Homes

Cultural/Heritage

Tisco Avenue

Duplex homes for Taylor-Wharton workers

TISCO Complex

Cultural/Heritage

Union Forge Park

Once part of the larger Taylor Iron and Steel Company property, the TISCO Complex was the center of the original Union Iron Works tract of 13,000 acres dating from 1742. The Site contains the original stone administrative office building that dates to Colonial times, the early 20th century Shop E building from the Industrial Revolution and the late 19th century iron truss bridge. Taylor-Whartons administration building and Shop E are now owned by the borough. Contains 27 acres and is located off Washington Avenue, across from Union Forge Park. It was acquired in 2006 with Green Acres money to preserve it as open space. It was originally owned by the Taylor family and used as a factory property mill. It has several historical buildings and is now used as a wildlife habitat.

Union Forge

Cultural/Heritage

7 River Rd

The original iron forge that led to High Bridges eventual settlement

Union Forge Park and Fields

Recreational

Washington Avenue

Union Forge Park is located on both sides of Washington Ave. It is 50.95 acres. It was acquired in the 1970s for recreational purposes. Its original owners were the Taylor Family. This area once housed Riverside Park, which included a pavilion where dances were held. On warm summer evenings people would gather to enjoy music, dance, and relax with their neighbors. You can enjoy activities there such as the playground, baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. It also hosts High Bridges Annual Community Day and the annual bike race.

Union Hotel

Cultural/Heritage

Union St

One of High Bridges two former places of lodging. The Union Hotel built in the 1800s was a home away from home for travelers. Conveniently located next to the railroad station it was a busy place. Part of the original building remains today as a multiple family dwelling, but the peaked roof and the front porch have been removed.

Willoughby Brook Bridge

Cultural/Heritage

Buffalo Hollow Road

Windcroft

Cultural/Heritage

Nassau Road

Built by Taylor-Wharton as "bachelor's quarters" for some of the workers. Now a multiple family residence.